Christiane Amanpour to Leave CNN After 43 Years
Christiane Amanpour announced she will depart CNN in June 2027, scaling back her programming following a major corporate merger and personal health challenges.
Chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour announced on October 19, 2026, that she will leave CNN in June 2027, ending a 43-year tenure. Amanpour will conclude her PBS program, "Amanpour & Co.," by the end of 2026 and transition her daily CNN International show to a weekly format in January 2027, with the final episode airing in May.
CNN Chairman Mark Thompson stated the decision followed several months of discussion, during which he reportedly attempted to persuade Amanpour to stay. While Amanpour's public statements focused on beginning a new chapter, reports indicate her departure is influenced by the third recurrence of her ovarian cancer in January 2025 and concerns regarding journalistic independence. These concerns follow the October 6 closure of a merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, valued between $81 billion and $110 billion, which brought CNN under the ownership of Skydance.
Insiders suggest the new ownership could shift the network away from fact-based reporting toward support for President Donald Trump, who praised the merger. Amanpour previously expressed concern in May regarding editorial changes at CBS News following the takeover. Following her exit, Amanpour plans to continue her podcast, "The Ex Files," and pursue new projects.
